Missouri Advisory Opinions March 11, 2022: 10-2022

Advisory Opinion Text

The Honorable John R. Ashcroft

Missouri Secretary of State

James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center

600 West Main Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Ashcroft:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated March 1, 2022 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Connor Toth, 2022-085. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• require all elections beginning in 2026 for local, state, and federal elected offices to utilize ranked choice voting;

• allow the number of choices a voter may rank to be no fewer than three per open seat;

• allow a political subdivision, special district, or county to opt out by ordinance or rule, by providing at least thirty days written notice to the election authority prior to candidate filing; and

• declare a candidate who receives a majority of votes to be certified the winner?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

ERIC S. SCHMITT Attorney General